Other people’s sins are often the stuff of juicy gossip but comedian Tudur Owen’s aim is to make you laugh in his one-man show Tudur Owen yn ‘Pechu’ (Tudur Owen Sinning) on S4C on Saturday evening, June 13 at 9pm.
As one of Wales’ most popular stand-up comedians, Tudur, 47, has just completed a tour of Wales with his show Pechu.
The final show of the tour at the Richard Burton Theatre in Cardiff’s Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama was filmed by Zeitgeist Television who were also responsible for the tour.
“Comedians often try to avoid working on television if that involves using a lot of their jokes as the audience can become too familiar with their stories. A comedian’s material is very valuable to him or her but I welcome the idea of having this show on S4C,” says Tudur who comes from Anglesey and lives in Y Felinheli, Gwynedd.
Tudur is well known throughout Wales as the star of Sioe Tudur Owen on S4C, as PC Leslie Wynne, as captain of one of the two teams in the panel show Munud i Fynd on S4C as well as being an actor on radio, TV and in the theatre. He also presents his own show on BBC Radio Cymru.
Despite all his TV work, the live show in front of an audience is Tudur’s favourite way of working. He has done comedy shows in theatres and other centres throughout Wales for 15 years as well as being part of the comedy circuit in England.
“Nothing compares to performing in front of a crowd in a live entertainment show and getting audience feedback immediately. As a rule, you don’t get that kind of instant reaction on TV but Sioe Tudur Owen combined the two with an audience in the studio.”
The show ‘Pechu’ was staged in locations very different to each other from Neuadd Dwyfor in Pwllheli and Soar Theatre in Merthyr to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.
“There’s a big difference between audiences in North and South Wales,” says Tudur. “I find it more difficult in South Wales – for one thing fewer people know who I am and they’re not always familiar with the accent.
And what about the title ‘Pechu’ (Sinning)? “It creates interest and gives something of a warning because the show isn’t to everyone’s taste,” continues Tudur. “In Wales we expect all forms of entertainment to be suitable for everyone. We’re afraid of offending people.
“We’re all bound to commit a few sins now and again and as I get older I’m getting to the stage where I care less about what people think. I’m becoming thick skinned!”
